Astros Manager Joe Espada Gives Promising Injury Updates Before Long Road Trip

After opening the season at home against the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox for seven games, the Houston Astros are hitting the road for a 10-game road trip through three cities, beginning on Friday night in Sacramento against the Athletics for three games. They will play three against the Colorado Rockies and four against the Seattle Mariners.

Ahead of the series final on Wednesday afternoon against the Red Sox, manager Joe Espada gave some injury updates on some key players. This news, for the most part, was encouraging for a team that is dealing with injury issues early in the season.

Astros Manager Joe Espada Gives Injury Updates Ahead of 10-Game Road Trip

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena — Jeremy Pena | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Jeremy Peña suffered a fractured tip of his right ring finger in preparation for the World Baseball Classic last month. He was able to return to the lineup twice against the Angels over the weekend and played once against Boston, but he has not played in back-to-back games yet.

According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, that could all change on the upcoming trip. McTaggart reported that Espada said that Peña could play back-to-back days against the Athletics. That would be a big step for Peña if he were able to do that, and it would be another step closer to getting him back full-time in the lineup. He is too valuable to lose both in the field and at the plate.

Two pitchers won't be traveling with Houston on the trip, closer Josh Hader and Bennett Sousa. Hader is still working his way back from left biceps tendinitis and the Astros are not going to push him too fast, given what he means to them this season.

As for Bennett Sousa, McTaggart reported that Sousa will stay behind and throw to live batters next week. It will be the first time he has thrown to live batters since he suffered a Grade 1 left oblique strain in his final spring training appearance.

Nate Pearson developed soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow during spring training, but according to McTaggart, Espada said that he threw a live batting practice and it went well. That is certainly good news.

After splitting the season-opening series with the Angels, the Astros were able to bounce back and win the series over the Red Sox, who are struggling to begin the 2026 season. It will be important that Houston gets off to a good start against the Athletics and Rockies on the trip before ending in Seattle.